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< h1 id = "using-helix" > < a class = "header" href = "#using-helix" > Using Helix< / a > < / h1 >
< p > For a full interactive introduction to Helix, refer to the
< a href = "https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/blob/master/runtime/tutor" > tutor< / a > which
can be accessed via the command < code > hx --tutor< / code > or < code > :tutor< / code > .< / p >
< blockquote >
< p > 💡 Currently, not all functionality is fully documented, please refer to the
< a href = "./keymap.html" > key mappings< / a > list.< / p >
< / blockquote >
< h2 id = "modes" > < a class = "header" href = "#modes" > Modes< / a > < / h2 >
< p > Helix is a modal editor, meaning it has different modes for different tasks. The main modes are:< / p >
< ul >
< li > < a href = "./keymap.html#normal-mode" > Normal mode< / a > : For navigation and editing commands. This is the default mode.< / li >
< li > < a href = "./keymap.html#insert-mode" > Insert mode< / a > : For typing text directly into the document. Access by typing < code > i< / code > in normal mode.< / li >
< li > < a href = "./keymap.html#select--extend-mode" > Select/extend mode< / a > : For making selections and performing operations on them. Access by typing < code > v< / code > in normal mode.< / li >
< / ul >
< h2 id = "buffers" > < a class = "header" href = "#buffers" > Buffers< / a > < / h2 >
< p > Buffers are in-memory representations of files. You can have multiple buffers open at once. Use < a href = "./pickers.html" > pickers< / a > or commands like < code > :buffer-next< / code > and < code > :buffer-previous< / code > to open buffers or switch between them.< / p >
< h2 id = "selection-first-editing" > < a class = "header" href = "#selection-first-editing" > Selection-first editing< / a > < / h2 >
< p > Inspired by < a href = "http://kakoune.org/" > Kakoune< / a > , Helix follows the < code > selection → action< / code > model. This means that whatever you are going to act on (a word, a paragraph, a line, etc.) is selected first and the action itself (delete, change, yank, etc.) comes second. A cursor is simply a single width selection.< / p >
< h2 id = "multiple-selections" > < a class = "header" href = "#multiple-selections" > Multiple selections< / a > < / h2 >
< p > Also inspired by Kakoune, multiple selections are a core mode of interaction in Helix. For example, the standard way of replacing multiple instance of a word is to first select all instances (so there is one selection per instance) and then use the change action (< code > c< / code > ) to edit them all at the same time.< / p >
< h2 id = "motions" > < a class = "header" href = "#motions" > Motions< / a > < / h2 >
< p > Motions are commands that move the cursor or modify selections. They're used for navigation and text manipulation. Examples include < code > w< / code > to move to the next word, or < code > f< / code > to find a character. See the < a href = "./keymap.html#movement" > Movement< / a > section of the keymap for more motions.< / p >
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